The Kitchen

The Whites told us that in order to remove our curses we could either go to the capital and pay a lot/do a quest for some high level cleric, or go downstairs and face the butcher in his prison area, his old area called the Kitchen.  Anyone of the Orders who enters always dies, but anyone in the kingdom is allowed to enter.  On the way down we slowed to read the murals on the walls.  They told the story of Ancient Predallen and the origin of Honne and Tatemae.  They represented Honne as a human with an eagle's head (air spirit), and Tatemae as human with a ?? head (earth spirit), and each was soon affiliated with a dragon, Honne with Tiamat and Tatemae with Bahamat.  We learned from our guides that Honne and Tatemae have some sort of continuing relationship with dragons.  There are no dragons on Predallen, but it is considered safe territory to raise young in, a duty of the Orders, should any dragon ask it.
We soon reached the entrance to the Kitchen.  A barred gate stood there, unlocked as it always is.  We went in to find a series of rooms.  Nothing much has been touched in centuries, not only wood but all iron had disappeared over time.  We did find a series of bodies, also generations old, one per room.  They had some old coins on them, with an occasional magic weapon.  The last one had a scrollcase with a single page from a journal, saying he was the last of 24 (or so), lamenting their decision to ever come here.  Anyway, in the 5th room we found 26 skeletons which the clerics quickly dusted.  We saw the bodies reforming on the intact bunks.  We destroyed one bunk, but it took too long, so we shoved the others into a corner room (northeast) and moved on.  In the next room we found 4 undead humans with cow heads sewn on.  Battle began, and after a few rounds of enchanting weapons and fighting through a doorway, Hunter and Mojo vs 2 of them,  we decided to close the door and leave.  Arranz recognized them as mummies.  
At that point, we heard the Butcher moving though the area.  We followed the sound through three more rooms before finally confronting him in a room with a Balrog statue and an open chasm blowing cold air.  Here, the Butcher lamented his curse, while we called out to him to submit to the pact made with Honne/Tatemae.  (We aren't quite sure if that pact is the same as with the Balrog).  The Butcher took off his helmet and cursed what had been done to his face (which looked stunningly handsome to us.)  He was half-elven.  At that point, a strong gust of wind blew most of us into the chasm. 
In the chasm, each of us was alone with the Butcher.  He was under our control, and we understood our choice:  torture him until he received redemption, or simply kill him, granting him redemption.  Torture or Kill.  Each made his/her decision and we were back in the room as if nothing had happened.  Zephyr and Obadiah's curse was lifted, everyone received a permanent +1 to saves vs. fear, and those who killed the Butcher received another effect.  When encountering undead, there is a 20% chance the undead will target only that person.  Those who tortured the Butcher have a 20% chance to be ignored by any undead.  We also understood how to kill the Butcher.  His soul resides in a cow that roams around the valley.  Kill the cow and the Butcher dies and his soul goes to serve the Balrog; don't, and he continues to suffer until he gives in to the illusionary torture he is under.  His absolute pride and arrogance have made it impossible for him to bow, and his madness means he can no longer change.  After a discussion, we all, except Arranz, agreed that he is all but harmless here, while if he dies, he again serves the Balrog, probably in the Abyss, but who really knows for sure?  Better not to take the chance such an evil figure will be sent back to create such evil and chaos as he did 1000 years ago.
We left off in that room in the Kitchen.  I think we can continue or leave now.
XP total 700.  +1 staff, dagger, light mace, large steel shield, 378 old gp.
